The funny part of this entire situation, if there was such a thing, was that she had never even wanted this job, she had been quite happy, helping her father, the governor of a small, yet very wealthy agricultural World, far from the politics and back stabbing of the core Planets. It was her mother, a dour and frigid women, who had always been under the impression that she was destined for greatness, for something better than a backwater planet far from the excitement, and pageantry of the Core Worlds, who had forced Selina to join the military. Believing that it would raise her own status, and allow her to rise up the social ladder; attend better, and more fabulous parties and rub shoulders with the very elite of the Realm.
Selina had risen quickly through the ranks, partly due to her own, quick thinking, skill and strength, along with the Families, financial backing and contributions to all the right and proper officials. So now she found herself at twenty-nine, to be not only the youngest Supreme Commander, but also perhaps one of the last one’s still alive and kicking. She fixed her gaze on the twin edifices at the heart of this guarded sanctuary, she had never been a religious extremist, her father had believed in the almost outmoded, but still barely tolerated view that all beliefs were valid, and so allowed his people to practice and pray to which ever God they choose to worship. Neither was she a true believer in the all-consuming power of the Conclave. What she did believe in though, was her own survival. After all that was the most primal human desire, to simply endure.
She shifted her attention back into the confined chamber, now occupied with her heavily armed troops, two hundred in total, all clad in the ridiculous gold ceremonial breastplates they must wear, and thick black cloaks. Still even in the gaudy uniforms they had the look and feel of elite troops, with their bullying arrogance and casual swagger. They held weapons loosely, almost languidly, although if you were to look at them closely, you would see fingers that never moved from the triggers of the guns, and eyes that were constantly alert and scanning.
It was an ancient tradition, which dated back to perhaps the very formation of the Empire that any officer who visits with the ruling elite was permitted to bring with them an honour guard, although this was rarely used as this Planet was supposed to be the safest in the universe. Selina was certainly not going to give up the opportunity to bring some of her finest troops to watch her back, just in case the mighty Conclave in all its majesty and glory had decided she should be removed from her position, for some reason. In more simple terms, to kill her.
This was the thought that had troubled Selina for the entire journey, she just couldn’t quite understand why the Conclave had decided on this cull, and especially as the war itself had seemed in recent months to have ramped up. Perhaps it was the most basic human emotion that was driving the most powerful men of the Empire, fear. Fear that these generals and commanders were beginning to garner too much influence for themselves.
That was of course not true of her, the only interest that truly drove her had been in trying to serve and protect the Marines that she commanded, and perhaps keep herself alive. She had never had any real interest in playing the game of politics, yet she had been forced to after the first attempt on her life, it seemed that many converted the position she held, and they were prepared to go to any lengths to take it for themselves.
It was then her stare fell upon her personal bodyguard Kimberly Ranes, a woman who had a long time ago been sent to slay her and she had got further than any other assailant. Once caught Selina had given Kimberly a simple offer, transfer her allegiance and she would not only allow her to live, but reward her handsomely; the assassin had made the correct choice.
Selina sat back for a moment and just surveyed the killer, she stood with the same relaxed stance as the soldiers, but her glacial, blue eyes were constantly scanning, and her hands as always lay upon the hilts of the two curved, poisoned blades that hung from bejewelled scabbards at her waist. Lean muscles were clearly visible beneath the skin-tight gold jumpsuit, while her features, were a mass of striking lines and plump lips. The usual sun-kissed, olive skin was barely visible beneath the garish streaks of coloured, metallic paints that were daubed upon her. She possessed an arresting and dangerous beauty, which if you weren’t careful could easily consume you. Selina remained a silence observer as Kimberly pulled her jet black hair back tightly behind her head, and tied it in a ponytail.
“What are you looking at?” Kimberly enquired lethargically.
Selina, felt her face flush and she stumbled over the words. “Just looking at you my protector,” attempting a grin at the end, to try and cover her awkwardness.
Without reply Kimberly slithered towards her with an almost inhuman poise and elegance. Selina did not flinch or take her eyes from the assassin. Even as she took Selina’s face almost tenderly in her hands and snaked her tongue seductively just above her lips. Kimberly was playing one of her usual games, an attempt to show her control over Selina and she would let her think that she did, to keep this killer on her side.
Then Kimberly shifted Selina’s head around gently and whispered into her ear “Do not look at me when we’re working,” the voice, was soft and almost gentle, yet as always if possessed an underlying, sense of barely controlled fury. “I am here to protect you, and I think that if the rumours are true you will certainly need that. It seems to me that the Conclaves favourite game at the minute, is see how many commander we can slay. I’m sure if I was still within the private sector I could have made a killing from all this, if you pardon the pun.”
Selina edged her own hands up slowly and removed the assassin’s softly from her face. When she spoke, her voice was firm, “And what is this you have been hearing then, I know that your sources are even better than mine?” she favoured Kimberly with a sly sneer.
For a second the assassin simply leered at her lazily, then when she spoke, her timbre was lowered to little more than a purr. “Nothing you do not already know my commander, that over the past six months ten of your colleagues, all much older and uglier,” she softly caressed Selina’s left cheek, her fingers tracing the inflamed, dark magenta scar that bisected it, “than you. Have all been called into an audience with the mighty Conclave, and have not returned. Their bodies have never been recovered and nothing is heard of them. They are simply replaced and the Empire moves on as if nothing has happened”
“Yes it certainly is not an easy time to be a commander,” Selina retorted curtly, her heart was pulsating rapidly within her ribcage and once again she felt a cold shiver rise up her spine, like spectral fingers, ice-cold, and eerie. “I would say that it is not too late to turn this ship around and simply disappear, however I would imagine the millions of orbital platforms would make escape at this point almost impossible.”
“Well it would be one way to go,” Kimberly responded playfully.
“You certainly do have a death wish don’t you, my assassin.”
“You know me too well,” Kimberly said, tilting her head slightly to one side. “Which I find disturbing, most people who catch an assassin in bed with them, attempting to slay them, would not then, offer that killer a job,” once again sharpened nails, ran softly over Selina’s face.
Selina fastened her gaze on those, stony eyes. “Well, you impressed me, no one before had been able to defeat my security so easily, and I like to reward good work. To me you were simply a tool, I don’t believe that you wanted me dead for any other reason that someone was paying you.”
Kimberly interjected, “Not just paying me my dear, this was not simply a few credits, your contract was worth millions, whoever wanted you dead had some very deep pockets indeed.”
Selina couldn’t help but break out into a broad beam, “well I’m certainly worth it.” She giggled and for the briefest instance, was taken away from this morbid place. Memories stirred synapses to fire and once again she was home. Upon the sandy beach outside the family home, the gentle, salty, sea breeze cooling her exposed skin. If she concentrated enough she could almost tast
e the ocean once again. In the distance the trawlers are returning to shore, bowels stuffed with exotic fish, it was a simple and peaceful place and that was all she had ever wanted.
When she transitioned back to the here and now she imagined she caught a brief snapshot of a genuine crease in Kimberly’s lips, a single flicker of emotion which was quickly controlled. “I gave you what I thought was a fair choice, switch your allegiance to me and become my personal protector, and not only would I spare your life, but I would also make you rich. I believed it a fair deal and seeing as you have saved my life more than once.” As Selina spoke her gloved hand outlined instinctively the blemish, images flashed, the man had been so quick, she had never even seen the knife, just the glint of steel, and then the shooting pain. “I think that it worked out well for everyone, don’t you?”
Kimberly answered with a sly, cutting smile. “Well, I wouldn’t say that you have made me rich yet my commander.”
“What about these?” Selina queried, as she tapped the ornamental sheaths, which had cost her a small fortune, well they would have done, if she hadn’t been able to collect, a certain amount of dirt on the seller and wrestled a considerable discount from him.
“They are nice of course,” Kimberly countered in mock defence. “However my bank balance is still I would say rather light.” The playful edge had returned to her voice.
“Well I promise you if I live through this then I will personally make sure that your balance, will be looking a lot more healthy, in fact I think it could probably match a small planets by the time I am finished.”
Kimberly’s eyes sparkled, “now that does sound good.”
Selina shifted her gaze back through the porthole to the landscape below. “However, you’re going to have to help me get off this World alive and I think that will be easier said than done.”
Kimberly eased exquisitely into the pew next to her, “Well now that I know there is some money in it for me,” her tone, took on a more serious note. “Did they say why they wanted to see you?”
Selina shook her head, “No the Conclave do not need to give a reason, they simply ask for your presence and that is that.”
“Well I would have to say our chances of surviving through this then are about twenty percent.”
Selina chuckled hesitantly, “Really, that good, I would think it more likely ten percent.”
“Well yes ten percent is more likely,” Kimberly paused. “I was just trying to make you feel better.”
Selina arched back and peered into her assassin’s eyes. They made her think of the oceans of her home world and how the sun gleamed on the surface. She had heard once that the eyes are the windows to the soul, yet now as she studied Kimberly’s, she thought she saw only pain and earnest sentiment.
The silence was broken by the pilot’s voice which echoed from various speakers, “We’re preparing to land, all personnel stand by.”
Selina smirked again, nervously. “Well it looks like it’s time to see in all their wisdom, why the council has ordered me here and perhaps face my own death.” She attempted to jest, however her tone remained tentative.
“We all have to face our death eventually my dear,” Kimberly responded, “I faced it that night, you captured me, as I have faced it hundreds of times before,” her face shifted and her body trembled slightly.
“Well I hope for both our sakes that this is simply a nice, pleasant meeting and we both will live to see the other side of it. As although I have never doubted your skill, I don’t think even you could protect me from the full weight of the Conclaves private army.”
Kimberly shook her head, “My commander, you have never before witnessed my true skill.” A broad, sardonic smile, caused the dried paint on her face to crack. “For while some assassins are taught to kill one man, or maybe ten, I was taught to kill hundreds or even thousands.”
Selina glanced at Kimberly for a second, her life was still so shrouded in mystery. Of course Selina had read the assassins file, it had taken her months and cost the life of at least one of her most trusted informants. Even this was incomplete, the facts that she could gleam from it was that Kimberly, had been removed from her home world, a barren piece of rock, on the very edge of an unimportant far flung galaxy. The reasons, were unclear, although it seemed, the allegation was that Kimberly had murdered her parents, the reasons or evidence of this was not given.
She had been taken to a re-education centre, where she had tussled back against the brainwashing and killed ten members of staff and managed to escape. The file noted in broad letters that she was the first to ever accomplish this feat, after she was recaptured, three months later, it was decided her skills should be put to work for the betterment of the Empire.
So she was despatched to Neptune a Planet in the Sol System, were it is alleged that the first humans were borne, long before even the creation of the Empire. It was here that the highly secretive death bringer’s academy had been set up, the Empires elite training centre for the moulding of assassins. After that the file had ended, what happened to her during training and after, classed so secret even Selina with her military clearance couldn’t gain access. This made her wonder once again, whether the assassination attempt had been sanctioned by the death bringers or was it as Kimberly insisted a private contract.
Selina shook her head, softly. “Much about you is still shrouded in secrecy, my killer that is certain,” she paused, “but I will the truth eventually.”
Kimberly laughed and it almost sounded sincere. “And how will you accomplish that my dear, I know that you pulled my file and yet even someone of your grand station does not have the clearance to know what I have done, for the name of this great Realm or simply for myself.”
“What troubles me about that, is why the Death bringers have never tried to get you back?” She paused and choose her words carefully, “It would seem to me that perhaps they wanted you to remain at my side for some reason that I cannot understand.”
Kimberly sniggered, “What, you think me a spy, my commander, I am hurt,” she held her hands up in simulated annoyance.
“I think there is a lot more to you than I know,” Selina sat back and grinned. “And for now I am fine with that, if you wanted me dead I would be, so whatever your true purpose is here, will reveal itself eventually.”
The corners of Kimberly’s mouth turned up, “Perhaps they will.” The smile was fully formed now, “the question you should really ask yourself, is if you can really trust me at all?” her tone at once spirited and deadly serious.
Selina glanced at her protector, “Well that is a question I gave up asking a while ago.” Her hand drifted to the rough skin, yet again, “You saved my life more than once, so that is good enough for me. The rest will come in time I am sure of that.”
“I think that is a good way to look at it my dear,” her voice dipped again. “As for the rest, it will take care of itself. You should know though, that the Death bringers have a plan for everything.” There was no trace of a smile now, instead her face was unreadable mask.
The shuttle began to shake, as the powerful engines kicked in to slow the descent. Outside the porthole, the view was consumed, in luminous flames. The hues of orange and yellow, commingled and within her mind, she once again saw her home and the sun rising over the still sea.
“We have arrived,” Selina exclaimed.
“Then let us see what judgement awaits us.” Kimberly retorted, her thin grin had returned, as she leaned back though, her hands fell to the hilts of her weapons.
Selina barred her eyes for a moment and drew in a profound gasp, she had the sensation of the moments before an important exam or job interview. However here failure would not result in simple disappointment, but a more finite conclusion and that was death.
Below the shuttle, in the cavernous, domed hangar, the cabal waited. Most of the men present, were old, their hair if they still had any was grey or even white, their bodies stood at extremes, they had either gone to fat, or ha
d a frail, contorted shape, as if the bones themselves were beginning to take on a life of their own. Most wore garish, velvet or silk robes, caked with jewels and gold. Some sported intricate medallions of platinum or some other precious metal, which were so heavy, that a few of the more wizened men, were forced to lean over, as if they were constantly paying tribute to some unseen deity.
Behind the mass of withered flesh and within the gloom at the edge of the circular chamber, a cloaked figure stood off. He was different from the others, younger and more vital, he had the look of some kind of predator observing its target. His lips creased in a sly sneer, as he thought if he was to simply blow up this room, it would solve a great deal of problems for humanity. Yet he was quick to admonish himself, if he were to slay these decrepit fools, more, youthful and vibrant men, direct, genetic descendants, would simply rise to replace them and fill the void. It was the never ending life of the Conclave, as it had been since the very creation of the Empire.
Still he found his hand slide to the handle of his silenced assault rifle, weapons were mainly prohibited upon this most heavily guarded World, yet no one would question him. It was not just his look, like some kind of olden gladiator, unleashed from legend, but also the insignia he wore on his black cloak. It marked him as someone who you, probably shouldn’t question. So he was allowed to come and go as he pleased, even here at the very core of the Realm.
The optical implant in his left eye, was triggered and images from mobile cameras, were relayed directly to his optic nerve. Within his mind, the neural sensor, allowed him to switch the views, simply by thinking about them. He observed as the shuttle glided down and the roof of the hangar slid open silently. He altered the viewpoint, so he could see outside the chamber, where the Conclave’s personal retinue, waited, hundreds of troops, in absurd, purple armour and plumed helms. That appeared like something you would find at a tourist attraction on one of the core Worlds, directing obese patrons to the various rides and amusements. Yet if you were to stare into these warriors deep-set, hollow eyes, you would see staring back at you, the spirits of simple, mindless killers.
The Last Foxhole (The Forgotten War Saga Book 1) Page 3
